Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he did not consider Raheem Kassam’s description of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch racist, a question John Crace examined in a Guardian opinion column dated Oct. 27.
Crace wrote that Farage was asked on BBC Breakfast whether Kassam’s wording was racist and replied, “No, I don’t.” Crace interpreted the answer as Farage criticizing the choice of words without considering it racially motivated.
Kassam later emailed a Guardian journalist that Farage had given him a “ticking off,” Crace wrote. Kassam said he could have chosen better wording and timing. He also called Badenoch a “con artist,” accusing her of turning the Conservatives into a version of the Liberal Democrats, according to Crace.
Crace reported that Kassam posted “Kemi Scammenoch” on X on Tuesday morning and that the post was later deleted. The columnist also wrote that Kassam’s pinned post describing Badenoch as a “Nigerian scammer” was removed.
Crace used the episode to raise a broader question about Farage’s response to racist language from people associated with him.
